Hen&#39;s nest.



PATENTED .APR. 7, 1903.

W. J. DILLARD.

HEN'S NEST.

APPLICATION FILED 00120. 1902.

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W; J. DILLARD'.

HENS NEST.

APPLICATION FILED 00120. 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JAMES DILLARD, OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA. I I

H ENS N EST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N10. 724,8?5, dated April'Y, 1903. Application filed October 20,1902." Serial No. 127,976. a. model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM J AMES DIL- LARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Santa Rosa, in the county ofSonoma and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hens Nests, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in hens nests, and has for its object to provide an improved article of the character specified which when the eggs have been laid will cause them to pass downward into one of a series of pockets formed in the receptacle below, thus obviating the possibility of the same being broken or otherwise dam aged through remaining in the nest proper;

It is further the intention of the invention to so mount and construct the receptacle below the nest proper that when an egg has passed through the passage between such nest and receptacle it will operatecertain mechanism which shall cause the receptacle to revolve, thus presenting an empty pocket of the series beneath the passage-way or chute.

The invention also contemplates the pro-f vision of mechanism for retaining the pocketed receptacle in a stationary positionthat is, preventing it. from revolving until the egg has been safely deposited in its pocket.

A further object is to so construct the nest portion proper and the pockets of the reoep: tacle that all chaff, dust, particles of straw, dirt, or any like accumulation will pass through these parts instead of remaining therein and soiling the eggs.

With these and other objects of a similar nature in viewthe invention consists in the peculiar construction, combination, and ar rangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter fully described in this specification, illus-;

the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a nest embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same, taken on Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my invention, the nest portion proper being removed and the cover of the receptacle broken away to more clearly show the construction of said receptacle. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of my invention on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3 with the nest portion proper removed therefrom, as in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the means employed to hold the revolving receptacle stationary.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,and in particular to Fig. 2 thereof, the numeral 1 designates the base or framework of the nest, formed in any manner and of any material, such as tin, iron, wood, or the like. This frame is preferably rectangular in shape and formed of open bars or strips, so that it may receive and support the top portion or box 2.

This box portion 2 is preferably formed with partition or floor 4 extends the entire, width of the top box from a portion near the top thereof to the bottom and is centrally apertured at 5 to permit the passage of the conduit or chute 6, which is rigidly connected with and leads from the removable screened nest port-ion 7. This nest portion is concaved or dishedin shape and is provided with a central orifice, which communicates with the chute 6. As above mentioned, it is formed of a screen-like material, preferably wire-netting, thus permitting particles of dirt, chaif, and the like'to drop upon the inclined floor or partition and be carried thereby to a point beneath the base-frame.

Revolubly mounted in the main or base frame is a horizontally-disposed plate or re ceptacle 8, having arranged in a circle near its periphery a number-or series of pockets 9 9. These pockets are so formed and the that when said receptacle is stationary'one of said pockets is at all times directly beneath the nest portion. The lower ends of the pockets are open, as at 10, to permit dust or bits of straw, &c., to fall or pass therethrough. The receptacle is mounted centrally on a vertical spindle, which is preferably formed of two parts 11 12. The part 12 is rigidly fastened in the base-frame, while its lower end is beveled to fit into the cutaway portion of the lower spindle part 11. This arrangement is shown at 13 in Fig. 2. The lower spindle portion is revolubly mounted, and its lower end finds a hearing at 14 in the frame 1. A coiled spring 15 has one of its ends secured to the lower end of the revolving spindle portion and its other end fastened to the frame 1, which spring being under tension causes the receptacle to revolve with its spindle when released from its retaining means, which means I will proceed to describe in detail.

Extending upwardly from the inclined partition or wall 4, on opposite sides of the aperture therein, are two lugs 16 16, apertured near their upper ends to receive and support the horizontally-arranged pin 17. This pin supports the trigger or trip mechanism and operating-weight, which mechanism may be of any preferred sort, consisting in this instance of a loop of wire 18, substantially elliptical in shape, coiled centrally about the pin 17, as shown at 19, and having at one end the projecting arm 20, carrying a weight 21. A depending swinging arm 21, provided with a horizontal extension 22, is loosely mounted on the loop, as shown at 23, and a similar arm 21, but having its horizontal portion turned in the opposite direction, is shown mounted on the loop at 24.. The revoluble receptacle being stationary, the end 25 of the loop extends through the cut-away portion 26 of the chute 6, and the arms 21 and 21 pass through orifices in the inclined floor, the end 22 of the arm 21 contacting with one of the segmental flanges 27 of the receptacle 8 and preventing the movement of the latter; but when the loop or trip is actuated or tilted by an egg dropping throngh'the chute and striking the end 25 of the loop the arm 21 will be moved out of contact with the flange 27 and the pocket containing the egg will be carried from beneath the chute and another pocket brought thereunder. By this time the weight has restored the depending arms to their normal positions, the arm 21 cont-acting with the contiguous segmental flange for preventing the revolution of the receptacle, and the arm 21 is brought into engagement with the retainin g-bracket 28, thereby preventing the weight 21 traveling downward and tilting the loop 25 out of its normal horizontal position. It will therefore be seen that the depending arm 21 cooperates with the bracket 28 in retaining the trigger mechanism in position. The frame or body of the revoluble receptacle or plate 8 is formed also preferably of netting to permit particles of chaff to pass therethrough, and a suitable cover, as at 29, is hinged to the top portion in such manner that it covers the portion of the receptacle outside the frame or base, thus preventing the eggs being removed or stolen therefrom. This arrangement is especially advantageous as a protection against rats, squirrels, orlike animals.

If desired, a nest-egg, as at 30, may be fastened by any suitable means in the nest portion proper of my device.

It will be observed that an egg will roll down the concave face of the removable portion of the nest, pass immediately through the chute, striking the trigger and causing the receptacle to revolve after the egg has been deposited in the pocket. Owing to the peculiar formation of the trigger and the arrangement of the parts, the receptacle will not turn until the egg has been deposited therein.

The numerous advantages, both structural and functional, incident to my improved nest will be immediately evident, so that it is unnecessary to dwell upon the same here in detail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame, a top portion or frame removably mounted thereon, a receptacle mounted in the main frame, and means for revolving said receptacle, substantially as set forth.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame, a top frame mounted thereon, a concave shelf or nest portion removably mounted in the top portion, and a receptacle revolubly mounted beneath said nest portion, substantially as set forth.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame,anest portion mounted in the top frame, a conduit depending from the nest portion, and a revoluble receptacle mounted beneath said conduit, substantially as set forth- 1. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, a concave nest portion removably mounted in the top portion and having an orifice in its lower portion, a conduit communicating with said orifice, and a revoluble receptacle mounted beneath said conduit, substantially as set forth.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, a receptacle therein, a flexible pocket in said receptacle, said pocket having an open lower end, a nest portion mounted adjacent to said receptacle, and a conduit leading from the nest portion to the flexible pocket of the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, a receptacle revolubly mounted beneath said top frame, a series of pockets in said receptacle, means for retaining the receptacle in its stationary position, and means for revolving said receptacle.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, an inclined partition in said top frame, a nest portion provided with a conduit mounted in said top frame, such conduit extending through an orifice in the inclined partition, a revoluble receptacle provided with a series of pockets mounted beneath said frame, means for bringing the pockets one atatimebeneath the conduit, and devices for holding the receptacle and pockets in such position, substantially as set forth.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, an inclined partition in said top frame, a receptacle beneath said top frame, means for revolving said receptacle, and devices mounted on the inclined partition for engaging with said receptacle and holding it stationary beneath the top frame.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, a spindle revolubly mounted in the main frame, a receptacle provided with a series of pockets carried by said spindle, a spring for revolving said spindle, and means mounted in the top frame for preventing the rotation of the spindle and its accompanying receptacle, substan tially as set forth.

10. A device of the class described, com prising a main frame and a top frame, an inclined partition mounted in the top frame, aremovable nest portion having its body portion formed of netting mounted in said top frame, a conduit connected with the nest portion and extending through an orifice in the inclined partition, a portion of the Wall of the conduit being open, a receptacle revolubly mounted beneath said conduit, and means mounted in the top frame and extending through the open portion of the conduit, adapted to be actuated by the passage of an egg through said conduit for the purpose of releasing the re ceptacle and permitting the rotation thereof.

11. A device of the class described, comprisinga main frame and a top frame, areceptacle mounted on a revoluble spindle beneath the main frame, a spring for revolving the spindle, depending arms or pins mounted in the top frame, adapted when in engagement with the receptacle to prevent the rotation of the same, and means for normally holding one of the pins in contact with said revoluble receptacle, substantially as set forth.

12. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, an inclined partition in said top frame, a removable concave nest portion having a. conduit adapted to be mounted in the top frame, a horizontally-disposed revoluble receptacle provided with a series of pockets mounted beneath said conduit, upwardly-extending projections formed on the inclined partition, a pin horizontally supported by said lugs, a depending arm extending through the partition and normally engaging with the wall of the receptacle for holding it stationary, but adapted whenactuated by an egg passing through the conduit, to move out of contact with the receptacle and permit it to revolve, and means for restoring the arm to its normal position of contact, substantially as set forth.

13. A device ofthe class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, a horizontally-disposed receptacle mounted in the main frame and having a portion of its surface extending outside the plane of the vertical wall of the top frame, and a cover hinged to top frame for that portion of the receptacle lying outside said top frame, substantially as set forth.

14:. A device of the class described, comprising a main frame and a top frame, a removable nest portion formed of netting, mounted in the top portion, a revoluble receptacle having its body portion also formed of netting or penvious material, mounted beneath the top frame, and pockets in said receptacle adapted to receive eggs from the removable nest portion, the ends of said pockets being-left open to permit the passage of dirt orchafi, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM JAMES DILLARD. Witnesses:

(J. D. BARNETT, HELENA O. DUGAN. 

